Clinical update: COPD & Asthma – The main underlying problem with asthma is airways inflammation, which leads to asthma symptoms and reduced lung function. Inhaled steroids are generally the main initial therapy for many asthmatics. However, the first-line treatment for patients with milder disease would be a short-acting reliever (blue inhaler) for breakthrough symptoms. All [...]

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma – A total of 85-90 per cent of people who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are smokers, the Asthma Society of Ireland reports. COPD is a growing problem and about 30 per cent of people who have the condition are smokers who continue to smoke, said Prof Richard Costello, [...]

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma – Mutations in the filaggrin gene among many Irish families predisposes them to develop eczema and this may progress later to asthma, revealed Prof Padraic Fallon, Science Foundation Ireland Stokes Professor of Translational Immunology at TCD’s Institute of Molecular Medicine. The absence of infections in developed societies – viral or [...]

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma – There has been a confluence of two advances in asthma, said Dr Conor Burke, Respiratory Consultant at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. There has been a confluence of two advances in asthma, said Dr Conor Burke, Respiratory Consultant at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. To get asthma, you have to have [...]

A potential new treatment for COPD has been shown to significantly improve lung function A potential new breakthrough in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that targets the underlying inflammation has been shown to significantly improve lung function and also reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD. Roflumilast also demonstrated additional benefits when added [...]

Dr Anthony O’Regan takes a look at chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and examines whether pharmacotherapy can have an effect on the progression of the disease. The sixth World COPD Day took place last month, on November 19. It is an annual event organis-ed by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) with the [...]

Dr Finbarr O’Connell outlines the benefits of St James’s Hospital’s award-winning Respiratory Outreach Programme for the management of COPD in the community. Early discharge initiatives, initially set up six years ago for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have evolved into comprehensive chronic respiratory disease programmes, managing all aspects of COPD in the [...]